Veligonda project 1st phase to be ready by June 2016

The first phase of the Veligonda project will be completed by June 2016, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu disclosed here on Thursday. He asked the Irrigation Department officials to expedite the work of packages one and two of the project.

Kothur (Prakasam): The first phase of the Veligonda project will be completed by June 2016, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu disclosed here on Thursday. He asked the Irrigation Department officials to expedite the work of packages one and two of the project.

CM says govt striving to complete irrigation projects

Seeks information on project works in Guntur, Prakasam districts

Addressing a review meeting with officials after inspecting the project work along with that of the tunnel project, he stated that the government was striving for the past six months, devoting special attention, to complete several irrigation projects as stipulated, giving priority to pending projects.

He sought details from officials of the ongoing works of projects in Guntur and Prakasam districts, including the modernisation of the Nagarjunasagar project. Naidu said the tunnel project work was not going on at the desired pace, while suggesting that best practices in the world and efficient machines be used to speed up the work.

He asked the department’s Principal Secretary Adityanath Das to call for the services of experts within 15 days. The Chief Minister noted with concern that the agencies implementing the packages one and two of the Veligonda project had started the work only 10 days back.

He stressed that the agencies should realise the government’s responsibility while carrying out the work, with a warning that, even if the persons involved in the agencies were known, they would not be spared if found wanting. The government would support those agencies doing good work. Naidu advised the department officials not to simply go by what the contractors said and adopt novel thinking process and act with determination to complete the works of various projects.

He called for linking of the Veligonda, Gundlakamma and Sagar canal works and preparation of plans to make all streams and canals in the district full. The Chief Minister directed the officials to constitute an expert committee on the construction of sub-canals of the Gundlakamma and Veligonda projects, by preparing suitable time schedules.

Referring to the Neeru-Chettu programme, he said check dams and ponds of 958 water bodies in the district should be repaired with the active involvement of farmers.